Valve



Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PTENT oFFlcF.l

VALVE Henry J. Persha, Portland, Oreg.

f Application February 14, 1950, Serial No. 144,150

The present invention relates to valves used in venting gases in liquid-containing systems of the class employed generally for transporting liquids over substantial distances, e. g. water mains and pipe lines for petroleum products.

In liquid transporting systems such as the above, it is necessary that valve means be provided in the high points of the system to permit the escape of air as the system is lled with liquid. Then when the system has been filled, valve means must be provided for the collection and periodic venting of air or other gases which may gradually accumulate and interfere with the proper functioning of the system. Still further, in the event that a major break should occur, it is necessary that valve means be provided for permitting the rapid introduction of air from the exterior to prevent the collapse of the system by reason of the vacuum generated upon the removal of its liquid content. In these applications, it is convenient to apply a float activated valve, although heretofore such use has been attended by the disadvantage that the floats employed have been subject to crushing by the very heavy pressures which are encountered in the system, particularly if the oat is permitted to contact a structural member during its operation, thereby denting it and initiating its collapse.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a single valve assembly for use in liquid systems which serves all of the above functions; i. e. that of acting as a valve for permitting the escape of large quantities of air upon lling the system, the periodic escape of minor accumulations of air during the operation of the system, and the introduction of large amounts of air into the system upon removal of the liquid content thereof.

It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a float operated valve for venting gas from liquid systems, the float acting to initiate the closing of the valve which there after is completed by the flow of liquid from the system.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an indestructible float for use in valves employed in venting gas in liquid containing systems.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of valve means for venting gas in liquid containing systems which valve means comprises a rst valve for the release of vacuum, and a second valve for the release of accumulated air, the second valve being a needle valve which is -operatedby the float and Ais self-aligning,

1 Claim. (Cl. 137-202) Still another object of the present invention is to provide a needle valve for venting gas in liquid containing systems which is self-compensating for wear over along term of use. f l

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished will be apparent from the following specification and claims considered together with the drawings wherein: 4 f

Figure lis a fragmentary, sectional View in elevation of the hereindescribed valve when filled with liquid; f v

Figure 2 isa sectional view in elevation similar to Figure lbut illustrating the valve when empty; and

Figure 3=is a detail sectional View of the float used in the presently described valve takenfalong the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the valve assembly of the present invention comprises a casing I0 having therein a port I2 which communicates with a liquid containing system through a coupling I 4y threaded thereinto. The top I6 preferably is formed as a separate member and is fastened to the body of the casing through bolts I 8, I8.

Extending transversely across the casing is a baffle 20 with passageways 22 therearound. Directly above the baille and adapted to rest upon it when the casing is lled with gas is a float 25 having for itsfunction the actuation of the individual valves comprising the assembly. The baille serves to direct the stream entering the casing via port I2 around float 25, and in this manner prevents the premature lifting of the float by the rapidly moving stream of entering fluid.

The rst valve member, indicated generally at 30, .is of substantial dimensions and serves the purpose of permitting the escape of large quantities of air or other gas when the system is filled with iluid,"and of permitting the entry of large 4quantities of air when the liquid is drained from the system,thereby preventing the collapse of the latter. To this end, there is provided on the top plate I6 of the casing a valve supporting section 32, this being centrally perforated at 34 and having around it a passageway 36. Extending Youtwardly from the plate I6 is the threaded hub '38 in which is secured the nut 40. The latter is formed with a valve seat 42 and a recess 44.

' Valve member 4B is stationed opposite the seat 42. Attached to it are an upper stern portion 48 which slides in recess 44, and ya lower stem portion 50 which extends through perforation 34 in the lvalve support section 32. "I'lie lower stem valve.

.in the casing. It is in this direction aeemce portion is adapted to contact float 25 as the latter is lifted in the casing, and thus to lift valve member 46 toward the seat 42.

The second valve means comprises a needle valve associated with the oat and has for its primary function the periodic release of accumulations of air or other gas during the use of the valve assembly. Attached to the float 25, as by being in threaded engagement with a. projection 52 thereon, is 'an arm 5l. As is apparent particularly from Figure l, this arm is threaded into a housing 5B which, in turn,

Within the housing 56 is the needle 60 of a needle valve, this having a transverse dimension somewhat less than that of the bore ofthe housing. It is secured within the. housing by meen-S of pin 62 which permits its limited oscillation,

The needle 60 is disposed opposite a port 64 extending through a sidewall of the casing ID and provided at its inner endJ with a seat lor receiving-the tapered end of the needle. The port may-be secured by any sitable means as, for example, by meansl of the nut 66, a gasket 6B beingprovided* as a seal.

The elements of the needle valve are proportioned and arranged in sucha manner that, when-it is -rst placed in use, the tapered end Yof the needle engages the seat at a station at which the center of the oat is slightly below port 64, and at which arm 54' is not aligned with the port. This misalignment of the arm is corrected, however, by the pivoting needle 50 which adjusts itself upon the application of pressure through the float 25 until it is aligned with port 64 and is securely seated in the inner-end thereof. Such a construction has the important advantage of compensating for wear of theY elements of the As such wear occurs, the oat will urge the needle further into the valve seat byl an amount commensurate with the amount or wear, thereby continuing to form an ehicient valve.

Since the pressures existing in fluid-conveying systems oi? the character described are very substantial, means are provided for preventing collapse of the oat 25. In the rst place, the needle valve assembly is stationed and proportioned in such a manner that the elevation of the float is arrestedimmediately after itsV contact with the stem 5c on valve member 6B. As a result, the float remainsa spaced distance below the inner surface of upper plate i6 and never comes in contact with it, even though the liquid continues to fill the inside of the casing. This, prevents the iloat from striking the top plate, and hence from being dented and weakcned.

In addition, the neat 25 may be specially constructed to resist the great pressure exerted upon it. As is shown particularly in Figures l and 3, it may be provided with an annular member 'lll spanning its interior and preferably disposed parallel to the, direction. oi fluid flow withthat the greatest pressure. isl exerted upon it. Such a member has the distinct advantage over rod or bar shaped braces in that the latter tend` to penetrate the side walls of. the float when great pressure is exerted thereon` However. the float assembly may be further strengthened by the inclusion of a rodor bar-shaped brace 'l2 which lieizietratesl a central opening 'I4 in the annular reenfnrcing ymember 10. and interconnectsJ the opposite sides of the float.. This brace preteris pivotally at,-vk tached through pin 58 to a side wall of the casing,

4 ably is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow.

In operating the valve of the present invention, it is connected to a pipe line, for example a line carrying water, at a high point in the line. Water then is introduced into the system, whereupon it will ll the line and, upon reaching the valve assembly, will enter the same via port i2. It then will fill the. casing i8 under .great pressure but without directly impinging upon float 25, which is protected by baille plate 2.0.

As the casing fills with water, however, the iioat therein will be lifted until it contacts stem 50 on valve member 4E. The upward motion of the latter thus will be initiated by the float but. continued by the rush of water into the casing.` This slams shut valve 3) and maintains it closed until a vacuum is present in the line.

Upon iilling of the casing with water and lifting of the float, the needle valve also is closed. The tivo valves thenv remain in closed position unt-il they4 are opened bychanees occurring within the system.k For example, as air enters the system over a period of time, it will ndits way into casing ID where it will accumulate. When the accumulation is' sufficient to lower Eloat 25, the needle valve will be opened, whereupon the air will; escape to the exterior. During this operation, valve 3|lA still will be held closed by the very substantial pressure existing within the casing.

However, if the system should be drained suddenlmjas when a break occurs therein, the casing wil-1 be evacuated. Float 2:5 then will drop, opening the needle valve and, at the same time, valve member 4B will drop downwardly upon the the support section 3,2. This opens valve 3u and permits a. sweep of airv into the system, preventing its, collapse.

During operation of; the valve, collapse of the float. 25 ispreventedby reason of its beinel maintained out ol contact with the ceiling of the casing so; that it; is not dented. Furthermore, it is reenforced by the plate 'lll and transverse bar l2; lt maintains the needle valve securely closed when elevated because the needle. of the same is self-aligning and seats itself securely Within port 6l even after wear has occurred.

lt is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith showny and described, is to be taken as a, preferred example of the same, and that various changes. in the shape, size and arrangement of parte' may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit ofmy invention, or the scopel of the. subioined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A valve assembly for ventingy gas in liquidcontaining system, comprising a casing communicating with the system, the casing having a vent. in thev upper surface thereof and a Dort in a side wall thereof', a float within the casing, a first valve having thereon an inwardly-.extending projection, an arm attached at one of its ends to the float, a needle pivotally attached intermediate its ends to the other end of the arm for movement independent thereof, a housing rigidly secured adjacent to the needle valve end of the arm and surrounding; said valve in spaced relation thereto to permit limited, movement of the needle into and out oi axial alienrnent. with the port axis, pivot means interconnecting the said needle valve housing to the casina adjacent to side wail port with the nes-,file stationed opposite the port and adapted t9. geen 5 and close the same with the motion of the oat, the needle acting upon initial lifting by the float to engage the port in axial misalignment and upon final lifting by the float to pivot into alignment with the port to seat itself in the port and simultaneously restrain the upward motion oi' the oat after the said float has engaged and initially moved the projection on the irst valve and prior to Contact of the oat with the top of the casing, the closing of the rst valve thereby being initiated by contact of the projection on the same with the oat, but being completed by the How of liquid Within the casing.

HENRY J. PERSHA.

References Cited in the le of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date OBrien June 4, 1907 McCracken Apr. 2, 1918 Halter June 9, 1936 Woolley Jan. 25, 1938 Blanchard May 7, 1940 

